A look at the University of Northern Colorado running backs as they head into the spring game.

» TROMAINE DENNIS, 5-11, 205, SR.: Became the starting running back last season and rushed for 948 yards and 10 touchdowns … Ran for more than 100 yards in three of his last five games and averaged 4.7 yards per carry … Finished the season with 114 yards at Weber State and 222 yards in the season finale against North Dakota … Also had 178 yards against Idaho State earlier in the season.

» QUENTIN HILDRETH, 5-7, 205, SR.:Finished as the Bears leading rusher in 2011 with 388 yards and three touchdowns … Averaged 3.3 yards per carry that season … Rushed for 117 yards and a 66-yard touchdown against Colorado State in 2011 … Rushed for 140 yards last season after battling plantar fasciitis in his foot.

» ROBERT HOLLAND, 5-11, 204, JR.: Finished last season with 19 carries for 85 yards and a 4.5 yard average … Was the only running back to play in all 11 games in 2011 … Finished that season with only nine carries for 37 yards.

“Battle of the Bears” moved

Due to the recent snowy weather, the Bears have decided to move Saturday’s noon “Battle of the Bears” spring football game from Nottingham Field to the Butler-Hancock practice fields.

Collins said the game was moved because of concerns over clearing the field at Nottingham and doing damage to the field’s surface. The practice fields are artificial turf.

The Bears have also canceled the alumni golf tournament that was scheduled in conjunction with the spring game.

Matt Schuman

University of Northern Colorado running back Tromaine Dennis would like nothing better than to be THE man in the Bears backfield again next season.

However, he knows he's got some pretty stiff competition to keep that job.

Dennis, a transfer from Butte College (Oroville, Calif.) last season, became the Bears' primary tailback as the season went along and had a strong finish to the season. He rushed for more than 100 yards in three of the last five games for the Bears, including 222 yards in the season finale at North Dakota.

Dennis finished fifth in the Big Sky Conference in rushing with 948 yards and 10 touchdowns, fourth highest touchdown totals in the conference last season.

He also managed to be one of the few UNC running backs that remained healthy throughout the season.

However, this spring the Bears are healthy at the running back spot, including the return of 2011's leading rusher Quentin Hildreth and junior Robert Holland, who was productive last season with a 4.5-yard-per-carry average in a limited role.

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Even after his strong finish last year, Dennis said he knows the competition for the starting running back spot will be fierce and that he can't rest on his laurels.

"I do believe that I am the front runner for the job, but it is mine to lose," Dennis said. "If I mess up or do anything, the job can be taken away."

It's that kind of attitude that UNC coach Earnest Collins Jr. likes to see from all of his running backs. Despite Dennis' strong finish last season, Collins still considers it an open competition for the starting running back spot that probably won't be decided until the fall when the full complement of running backs are in the fold, included highly touted freshman Darius Graham, a three-star recruit out of Lawton, Okla.

"For me, more is always better because you just never know who is going to go down and who is going to get banged up," Collins said. "So for us to have three or four running backs that we trust that are healthy but are going to play with us — not even including the two freshmen that are coming in — it is a great deal for us because you've got to have that depth, especially at that position."

Collins found that out last year when Dennis was the only running back to play in all 11 games. It was the same in 2011 when Holland was the only back to play in all 11 games.

Hildreth missed two games in 2011 after transferring from the University of Colorado but still managed to finish as the Bears' leading rusher with 388 yards. He looked to be the front-runner for the starting job last year but missed all of spring ball after suffering a hernia and was never quite healthy the rest of the season as he missed four games with plantar fasciitis in his foot.

However, this season, Hildreth is nearly back to full strength and ready to battle Dennis for that starting spot after getting himself into great shape coming into spring and getting his body fat count down.

"In football you're never at 100 (percent). There is always bumps and bruises, you've just got to play with that stuff," Hildreth said. "I had my hernia last spring so I wasn't able to work out all summer so I came into (fall) camp a little out of shape (last year). So, it was really disappointing. Off-season is one of the biggest parts of football and I technically didn't have one, so I kind of blame my injuries on that. But I have been working out and just doing everything right, so I am excited."

Dennis is just as excited to get himself prepared for the season. Last year, he came in late in the fall and it took some time for him to get comfortable in the offense. That won't be the case this year.

"Last year it was just such a rush and I couldn't get everything, the details of what I needed to know," Dennis said. "But this year coming in I know what I need to do and I know what I have to do to be successful. So it is a definite relief that I know everything and I am here."

ABOUT THE BACKS

A look at the University of Northern Colorado running backs as they head into the spring game.

» TROMAINE DENNIS, 5-11, 205, SR.: Became the starting running back last season and rushed for 948 yards and 10 touchdowns … Ran for more than 100 yards in three of his last five games and averaged 4.7 yards per carry … Finished the season with 114 yards at Weber State and 222 yards in the season finale against North Dakota … Also had 178 yards against Idaho State earlier in the season.

» QUENTIN HILDRETH, 5-7, 205, SR.:Finished as the Bears leading rusher in 2011 with 388 yards and three touchdowns … Averaged 3.3 yards per carry that season … Rushed for 117 yards and a 66-yard touchdown against Colorado State in 2011 … Rushed for 140 yards last season after battling plantar fasciitis in his foot.

» ROBERT HOLLAND, 5-11, 204, JR.: Finished last season with 19 carries for 85 yards and a 4.5 yard average … Was the only running back to play in all 11 games in 2011 … Finished that season with only nine carries for 37 yards.

“Battle of the Bears” moved

Due to the recent snowy weather, the Bears have decided to move Saturday’s noon “Battle of the Bears” spring football game from Nottingham Field to the Butler-Hancock practice fields.

Collins said the game was moved because of concerns over clearing the field at Nottingham and doing damage to the field’s surface. The practice fields are artificial turf.

The Bears have also canceled the alumni golf tournament that was scheduled in conjunction with the spring game.